"Lucian, on the other hand..."Rhyland's voice trails off, a hint of concern lacing his words.
"What about him?"
"It's different with him. She's his mate. Every instinct in his body screams at him to protect and cherish her. He'd sooner starve himself into madness than ever lay a finger on her in harm."Rhyland's tone is solemn, his words hanging heavy between us.
I gaze at Lucian, watching as he stares at Seraphina with a longing so intense it's almost palpable. The depth of emotion in his eyes is staggering, a testament to the unbreakable bond between a vampire and his mate. At this moment, I know with absolute certainty that Lucian would move mountains and walk through the fires of hell before he allowed any harm to come to Seraphina.
"How long can he hold out if Seraphina doesn't accept the bond?"The question tumbles out of me before I can stop it, a nagging worry plaguing me since Rhyland offered me his own bond.
What would have happened if I had made him wait? If I had refused?
Rhyland is silent for a moment, his brow furrowed in thought."It's difficult to say,"he admits at last."It varies from vampire to vampire, depending on their strength of will. Some of our stories speak of those who waited years, decades, or even centuries for their mate to accept the bond. Others..."He hesitates, a shadow passing over his features."Others fell to their darker nature when faced with rejection from their fated partner."
I swallow hard, my mouth suddenly as dry as the desert sands. The thought of what could have happened to Rhyland, of the pain and madness he might have endured had I not accepted our bond, sends a shiver spider down my spine. And now, watching Lucian, seeing the raw need etched into every line of his face, I can't help but fear for him.
Lucian is strong, his mind is as sharp as a steel trap, and his will is unbreakable. But everyone has a breaking point, a limit to what they can endure. And the bond between a vampire and his mate, the all-consuming need to claim and be claimed in return... it's a force that can bring even the mightiest to their knees.
"We'll just have to hope it doesn't come to that,"I murmur, my heart aching for the struggle I know Lucian must be facing."Seraphina may be an angel, but she's not heartless. Surely, she won't let him suffer needlessly."
Rhyland nods,his jaw tight with unspoken emotion."We can only pray that she sees the truth of their bond and accepts the gift that fate has bestowed upon them. Because if she doesn't..."
He doesn't need to finish the thought. We both know the stakes, the terrible price Lucian may be forced to pay if Seraphina rejects him.
As I watch the interplay of emotions across Lucian's face, the way his eyes never leave Seraphina's form, I can't help but feel a flicker of hope. Because, in the end, love always finds a way. And if anyone deserves a happily ever after, it's Lucian—the vampire with a heart of gold beneath his smartass exterior.
"I'm just so fucking happy he's finally back to his old self and has stopped drooling over your delectable ass,"Rhyland's relief flows through me."Now he can focus on his own goddamn mate and keep his fucking hands and fangs to himself. I won't have to rip him apart limb from limb for sniffing around what's mine."
I can't help but snort at that. "Aww, were you feeling a little threatened there, Fjord Fluff? Afraid Lucian might sweep me off my feet with his charming wit and dashing good looks?"
Rhyland hasn't breathed a word aboutthe kiss—Lucian and his loose lips just had to spill the beans. I'm counting my lucky stars that Rhyland's keeping mum. Maybe he's just as eager as the rest of us to put this whole clusterfuck behind us.
"Watch it, Angel. You know damn well that you're mine and mine alone. I won't hesitate to remind you of that fact, even if it means bending you over this table right here and now and showing everyone in this fucking tavern who you belong to."
I feel a rush of heat flood my body at his words, my thighs clenching involuntarily at the thought of Rhyland claiming me so publicly, so possessively. But I'll be damned if I let him know just how much his little display of dominance affects me.
"Whoa there, Berserker Beau,"I tease,"Let's keep the public mating rituals to a minimum, shall we? We wouldn't want to give Seraphina a crash course in Vampire Kama Sutra 101. I'm pretty sure her angelic sensibilities aren't quite ready for the sight of your bare ass in all its glory."
Rhyland's answering chuckle is dark and filled with wicked promise."Oh, I think she'd survive, baby. But you're right. We shouldn't subject the poor girl to our passion's raw, untamed force. She's got enough on her plate dealing with Lucian's piss-poor attemptsat wooing."
I can't help but snicker at that, my eyes darting to where Lucian sits, his gaze still glued to Seraphina like a lovesick puppy drooling over a juicy bone.
"By the way, I felt that, Angel."
I play dumb, batting my eyelashes with exaggerated innocence."Felt what, exactly?"
Rhyland leans over, his breath hot and heavy against my ear, his hand gripping my thigh with possessive intent. "You got fucking excited when I mentioned taking you right here on this table, in front of everyone," he whispers, his words a sinful caress against my skin. "I think my Naughty Little Angel has a kink for public sex, for being watched, worshipped, dominated. You've proven that twice now. Or should I say, Little Devil?"
I close my eyes and try to steady my breathing, but it's a losing battle. Rhyland's words, his touch, the very thought of him claiming me so openly, so possessively, in front of a room full of strangers—it sends a spark of molten desire straight to my clit, my body betraying me in the most delicious way possible.
Fuck, I am one dirty, shameless bitch.
Rhyland throws his head back and laughs, the sound equally intoxicating and infuriating. "See? I knew it, baby. You can't hide from me, not even in the depths of your own mind."
I shoot him a mental middle finger."Yeah, yeah, laugh it up, you smug bastard. Just remember, two can play at this game. Keep teasing me like this, and I might give the good people of this tavern a show they'll never forget."
Rhyland's eyes flash with hunger and challenge, his grin turning feral. "Don't make promises you can't keep, baby. You know I'll take you up on that offer in a fucking heartbeat."
I lean in close, my lips brushing against his ear in a whisper-soft caress. "Who says I can't keep them? Maybe I want to bebad,to let everyone see how thoroughly you own me, body and soul."
